Entry/Exit Requirements

U.S. citizens may enter the Philippines for purposes of tourism without a visa if they present their valid, unexpired U.S. passport and a return ticket to the United States or an onward ticket to another country. It is your responsibility to maintain the validity of your U.S. passport while traveling in the Philippines. Upon your arrival, immigration authorities will annotate your passport with an entry visa valid for 30 days. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you must apply for an extension at the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and Deportation's (BI) main office at Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila, or at any of its provincial offices. Once in the Philippines, you can apply for a twenty-nine day extension. If you know you will stay in the Philippines for more than 30 days, you can obtain a fifty-nine (59) day visa at the Philippine embassy or consulate closest to you before traveling to the Philippines. If you are coming to the Philippines for purposes other than tourism, please check the Embassy of the Philippines website for visa requirements. You may be denied entry or be fined if your purpose for entry is other than tourism and you do not possess the correct visa.

U.S. citizens may obtain a multiple-entry transit 9(b) visa to permit travel from one country to another via the Philippines. Travelers must obtain a transit visa from a Philippine embassy or consulate prior to traveling to the Philippines; transit visas are not issued upon arrival in the Philippines. The transit visa generally is valid for one month and allows the traveler to remain in the Philippines for up to three days. The transit visa is not convertible to any other type of Philippine visa and cannot be extended. U.S. citizens holding an approved transit 9(b) visa should possess the following to qualify for entry to the Philippines: a valid, unexpired U.S. passport, a confirmed onward ticket to another destination, and a valid visa for the country of final destination, if a visa is required.

Persons who overstay their visas are subject to fines and detention by Philippine immigration authorities. Please remain aware of your visa status while in the Philippines and strictly follow immigration laws and regulations. Visit the Embassy of the Philippines website for the most current visa information.

Certain foreigners must apply for an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the Bureau of Immigration before they may depart the Philippines. For more detailed information on how this applies to many temporary visitors and to certain immigrants, please visit the Bureau of Immigration’s website.

Special requirements exist for the entry of minors who are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian and who do not possess a valid visa. The Bureau of Immigration recently strengthened its enforcement of penalties for these requirements. Children under 15 years of age unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian must obtain a “waiver of exclusion" before entering the Philippines. These waivers are available from Philippine embassies and consulates or from the Bureau of Immigration and Detention in Manila. Please check with these entities for further details. Currently, children attempting to enter the Philippines without a waiver of exclusion will be assessed a fee of 3,120 pesos upon arrival (payable only in pesos). The Bureau of Immigration will retain a photocopy of the child’s passport.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.

HIV/AIDS RESTRICTIONS: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors. Philippine law prohibits discrimination in travel and residency matters based simply on an individual’s actual or perceived HIV status. For more information contact the Embassy of the Philippines at 1600 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, telephone 202-467-9300 before you travel.